Курсовая работа: Text 3. Britain and the Coming of the Romans

By 55 B. C. Caesar had conquered all Gaul – i.e. roughly what we know, as modern France and Belgium. In the summer of that year his armies «had reached and even crossed the Rhine into Germany. They now looked from the harbour at Boulogne to the white cliffs across the Channel. What made Caesar want to conquer Britain? It was not a wealthy country, nor was it powerful enough to threaten Roman Gaul. Its climate was damp and unattractive. But as long as Britain remained free, discontented Gauls could escape there and plot rebellion in exile, and rebellion was a real danger to the Roman power in Gaul.

Britain was also a centre of the religion of the Druids. In the Celtic tribes of Britain and Gaul these priests had a position of authority almost equal to that of the kings and chieftains. The religion of the Druids was mysterious and sinister. Romans believed that the Druids practised human sacrifice. At any rate, perhaps because of the horror of human sacrifice, and certainly because of resentment at the Druids' influence on both sides of the Channel, the Romans were anxious to root out the Druids, and the Druids in return did all they could to foster hatred of the Romans.

Caesar's first expedition to Britain, in 55 B. C. – an expedition consisting of about 10,000 men carried in nearly 100 ships – was not meant to be a full-scale invasion. It was designed to prepare the way for an invasion in the following years by exploring the ground, by finding suitable harbours and landing-places, and by testing the Britons' tactics and fighting spirit in battle. Caesar landed against stiff opposition on a beach between Walmer and Deal. The landing itself was successful, but the Roman ship captains, coming from the Mediterranean, were not used to the tides and the ways of the sea round the coast of Britain. They had beached some of their ships on an exposed coast and left the rest at anchor a little way out to sea. On the night of the full moon, when the spring tides were at their height, a storm suddenly sprang up. The, beached ships were filled with water and the ones at anchor battered. Many were totally lost.

Caesar was now in a very difficult position. He had to get his men back to Gaul, for they had no provisions for the winter. Not only was his fleet wrecked, but the British chiefs, seeing his trouble and the small size of his army, were beginning to attack him again. Caesar did not lose his nerve. He had the least damaged ships refitted with timber from the wrecks, and then enjoyed the good fortune of a spell of calm weather before the autumn storms. His army returned safely to Gaul, but though he had successfully accomplished most of his immediate objects, he had not found a harbour.

NOTES:

Gaul (Gallia лат.) — Галлия, историческая область Европы, населенная с 6 в. до н.э. кельтами, которых римляне называли галлами

Boulogne — Булонь, город и порт на севере Франции

the Channel – Канал (Ла-Манш)

Druids – друиды, название жрецов у кельтских племен

Britons — бритты, кельтские племена